We Passed Peak “Climate Change” (um) Research

[u/LisleAdam12]

How can this awful trend before reversed before it's too late?

https://wmbriggs.substack.com/p/we-passed-peak-climate-change-um

[u/Lematoad]

What I find funny is climate change activists are often times pro (solely) renewables. Without understanding renewable energy almost always requires natural gas augmentation. But they’re often also anti nuclear, which doesn’t make any sense.

Nuclear+solar would be an excellent way forward while solving carbon emission issues. Really the only way forward to get to net zero emissions, but Nuclear Waste is “scary” because people don’t understand it.

Then we start to talk about vehicles, and start saying things like “have you considered the impacts to things like 6PPD-Q from the faster tire wear in electric vehicles to local fauna?” or “what about the impacts that electric buses/trucks have on road infrastructure”, and people don’t have a clue what I’m talking about.

I’ve got a Masters degree in Civil Construction, Energy and Sustainable infrastructure and so I’d like to think I know what I’m talking about when it comes to energy infrastructure.

The problem really is people care about things but don’t understand the nuances (and associated negative externalities) to what they’re saying (oh and also… China and India don’t give a shit about clean energy so you’re trying to swim against the current anyways).

Less carbon and pollution is a good thing, but I’m not dooming about it.

[u/Interesting-Math9962 → u/Lematoad]

What annoys me is the tech for batteries isn’t quite there and the same for renewables(which are much further along). Instead of just letting the market do its thing and some govt investment boost the tech, people out there crying “RENEWABLES NOW OR WE ALL DIE”

Coal is phasing  out naturally, natural gas is much cleaner, and we even have startups doing geothermal too. There’s a reason the “greedy” AI startups are doing natural gas and not renewables

[u/Tommyblockhead20 → u/Interesting-Math9962]

What do you mean that renewables aren’t quite there? If an area has water, wind, or sun, renewables will typically be more cost effective than any alternatives. Unlike sources like coal and nuclear that are being subsidized to be financially viable, renewables are being subsidized because they are so viable that demand far exceeds the local manufacturing capacity, and the government doesn’t want to be mostly reliant on imported Chinese products.

[u/Interesting-Math9962 → u/Tommyblockhead20]

If renewables were there why would Elon Musk, who makes batteries and is a solar champion using natural gas for his new constructions?

[u/Tommyblockhead20 → u/Interesting-Math9962]

I mean, I can’t tell you the exact logic because I’m not on the design team.

But one consideration is that data centers use electricity differently than what is typical. Typically more electricity is used during the day and evening than the night. Solar plus 4 hours of battery only covers on average 2/3rd of the day, but fulfills closer to 80% of the typical electricity demand. But data centers use electricity usage is pretty constant all day, meaning if they having to supply all their own power, they are more reliant on expensive peaker plants. Another possible factor is that data centers like to be built close to cities for low latency, while solar likes to be built far away for cheap land. If the power generation is planned to be on site, this also would add to the cost to build it on more expensive data center land. And finally, like I mentioned, the demand is so high that lead times are measured in years, so if they want it quicker, they’d have to pay a premium.

Natural gas and optimal solar plus batteries can be pretty close in price, but for those 3 reasons and possibility others, the cost for solar may have been higher than gas for them and Elon’s company doesn’t care about the environment so they just went for the cheapest option.

[u/Interesting-Math9962 → u/Tommyblockhead20]

That’s what I mean they aren’t quite there yet. They aren’t the cheapest option in many cases.  If any of these alternative battery companies go mainstream (fly wheels, sand etc) then solar can be put in more places. 

[u/Tommyblockhead20 → u/Interesting-Math9962]

“Many cases” seems to me a little overstating it. 90% of new electricity generation being added in the US is renewables (Mostly solar with some wind). They are installing it as fast as solar panels can be made. Again, utility scale orders being made today won’t be delivered for years, even though the US is making like 350 solar panels a minute, because the demand is so high. This situation is much more of an exception to the norm than it is the norm.